Hydrocephalus...something breeders and buyers should be aware of

[JaLaYorkieGirl]

I was having trouble sleeping a couple days ago and was skimming through puppyfind for stolen pics (our pics were stolen a couple years ago so I am always checking) and found an ad that was very disturbing to me. The puppy was a very tiny yorkie that was for sale here in Ohio. The pictures clearly show that the puppy has the classic signs of hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus is when the brain fluid can not naturally drain away and builds up in two ventrilcles of the brain. This build up causes pressure on the skull and the brain and can inhibit brain development and function. This can be a very severe and deadly disorder, medical treatment is required.

I did e-mail the breeder through puppyfind to alert her to this problem in the hopes that she was just uneducated on the subject and could now do the right thing but she has not replied and the ad remains, and the puppy's sale is even pending. Someone is going to get their heart broken, she has another male for sale too that I suspect may also have the condition. This condition is usually congenital (born with) or sometimes acquired (trauma or injury)...but in a puppy this young it is presumed congenital.

A tell tale sign that a puppy has severe hydrocephalus is the "sun setting" appearance that the puppy's have. They also have a dome shaped head and usually have an open fontanel. This does not mean that every puppy with an open fontanel has hydrocephalus, just that puppies with hydrocephalus have them.

The eyes look like a setting sun against a white sky...this is not normal and if you ever see this in a puppy do not buy it. If it happens in your own puppy then you will know what it is and can seek medical treatment. I have seen it first hand in the clinic I worked at...it is so sad especially when it is severe.

Here is some more information on the problem...
HYDROCEPHALUS IN DOGS - Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia -

Here are some pictures of a Chihuahua with hydrocephalus and his story. His eyes are more pushed out from the corners than the top.
Nico Enrico

here is a hand drawing of where you can see the whites of the eyes...
http://www.marvistavet.com/assets/im...g_sun_sign.gif

I am very frustrated that this breeder still has this puppy listed for sale. A responsible breeder would not be selling this dog but more concerned with finding it medical treatment.

Just a reminder...when you go to look at a puppy...always
* Check their bites
* Check their bellies for hernias
* Check male puppies for 2 descended testicles
* Check their skin condition, check for fleas
* Check the top of their heads for an open fontanel (gently rub your finger over their head)
* and I would check their knees just by bending the leg, if the puppy has severe LP you will feel it pop.

and check those eyes, you will see the whites of your puppy's eyes are times but not when they look at your directly.

These are just a few steps you can physically take to ensure you are getting a healthy puppy.

[DejaVu]

great info for people who dont know about this condition. I have seen a puppy with this, the puppy was very disoriented and was much smaller than the others in the litter. He could not walk straight and whined excessively. Due to the severity of it he was pts. Its so sad! Hopefully these people are just uneducated and will get your email and have the puppy checked out.

[AprilLove]

This is GREAT information, Jackie. Thank you for sharing it. Too many people look for the tiny cute puppies and are not aware of this condition. I truly hope that whoever buys that puppy does not get their heart broken in pieces.
And thank you for the tips on what to look at physically with a new puppy.

[Patti]

Great information. One of mine has an open fontanel but no other symptoms of hydrocephlus but I was not aware of the eye symptom just the dome head.

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

great info!

[yorkiekist]

Very informative for all new buyers out there and inexperienced breeders!!

[kpstoybox]

I agree! Thanks for posting this. Here's hoping it will save someone a lot of money and major heartbreak.

[JaLaYorkieGirl]

I just hope this post will help at least one person when buying a puppy or help a breeder be able to recognize a problem!

[bchgirl]

I can recall at least twice....people on this forum have posted pictures of their puppy or a puppy they were interested in purchasing...that had these symptoms. One fortunately, kept looking but the other wasn't so lucky. Her baby died.

I think this post should be made a sticky...

[AprilLove]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

I can recall at least twice....people on this forum have posted pictures of their puppy or a puppy they were interested in purchasing...that had these symptoms. One fortunately, kept looking but the other wasn't so lucky. Her baby died.

I think this post should be made a sticky...

[Harley_chik]

Originally Posted by DejaVu

great info for people who dont know about this condition. I have seen a puppy with this, the puppy was very disoriented and was much smaller than the others in the litter. He could not walk straight and whined excessively. Due to the severity of it he was pts. Its so sad! Hopefully these people are just uneducated and will get your email and have the puppy checked out.

The sad thing is a puppymiller would sell a pup like that as a teacup, micro, extra tiny, pocket puppy with an extreme babydoll face. I agree that this would be a good sticky.

[jrsygal37]

We lost Jersey at 17 months old to a brain disorder. Our vet never said Hydrocephelus but losing her haunted me and each night I'd go online and continue to research medical conditions that could have caused the symptoms she had. Our vet mentioned that it could be something "organic" I(whatever that means) and he mentioned a brain tumor. He said he saw something "abnormal" in her brain. At the time (August) I was just so distraught when he said that there was nothing he could do that I never questioned enough. We put our little girl down at 17 months old. I now suspect that it was Hydrocephelus but don't know for sure and I guess her death will ALWAYS haunt me.

Her symptoms if it will help anyone at all were as follows.

1. As a pup (we got her at 10 weeks of age) she acted strangely. Very withdrawn, would hide a lot. She would eat fast and nervously then hide. Acted (only way to describe it) almost like a child that was "special or mentally challenged." At the time I thought it was a socialization thing and that she just needed time. Yet in my heart from when I first brought her home I could feel something wasn't right but could not figure out what.

2. As she grew the strangeness stayed. We have four others and this little one would play but would also stay to herself mostly. She would go off by herself and sleep alone - not with us and not with the others. And, I should mentione that she always had a slightly different look in her eyes. The best way to describe it (And I hate to sound in polite) is like when you see a child that does not look right - you know you can tell when they are slightly retarded - she had that far away look.

3. Three moths before we lost her - things changed more. Her eyes got very distant, glazed almost and she started to become stranger. Aggressive. She would just be lying there and one of the dogs would walk by and she'd lunge for them, growling viciously wanting to attack. If you attempted to stop it she would turn on you. It seemed though as if she did not realize she was doing it. I hadn't realized right away until just recently but my son had a video of her and six months before this she was not like this. Her eyes were clear - in her most recent picture taken a month or less before this her eyes look dead to me - glazed with a far away look (I've attatched a picture). I can't put my finger on it - but her eyes look almost sad too. I just know that they were different then my other girls. Very distant looking.

This really hurts me to write this and I can't say for sure that it was hydrocephelus but if what I write can help one person you know. I won't ever get over losing her and I'll always regret not pushing it further but at the time it was so bad and I trusted my vet when he said that we can spend $5,000 and still not be able to help her. He told us she would just get sicker and sicker. Anyway, I wish I could get the closure I so need and I pray that this info. will help someone else looking for answers.

Elaine

[jrsygal37]

Here is another one taken same time. If you notice she is sitting apart somewhat from the others. She always went off by herself and it wasn't because they weren't nice to her. They loved Jersey but sadly in the end were afraid of her as she was constantly trying to attack in which they couldnt' understand. I do believe they knew something was very wrong with her because they would never go back at her, even my Bella who weighed 13 lbs. compared to Jersey's 5 lbs. Elaine

[LoveMyJake]

Thank you so much for posting this. I bought a puppy with Hydrocephalus a little over a year ago. I knew she had this when I bought her, but I did it because I knew that she was coming from a bad breeder, and I knew she was not being taken care of, and I felt this puppy deserved a chance.

I ended up taking her at just 5 weeks old. She wasn't being raised in the best of conditions, to say the least. I knew I had to get her out of that situation. Her vet had told her that she could be treated with meds. She was unwilling to spend the money, and she basically begged me to take her early. She said that if I didn't take her now, she didn't know if she would make it through the night. Like I said, I had to get her out of there.

I had little Lily for only 10 days, and she died. My vet had agreed to treat her, but he said first thing we had to do was get her hydrated and fed because she was malnurished. Her mama had refused to let her nurse, and she wasn't being fed very much. Had it not been for her poor condition, she would have had a better chance. After 5 days with us, she went from 5 oz. to 13 oz. and was starting to respond to the meds. She was able to walk, hold her head up better, she was eating great, but her balance was off. She was even starting to try to play and respond to my voice. She was blind in one eye, and would turn to look at me with her good eye....so sweet. This was hard for her because her head control wasn't very good. Just when she seemed to be doing so well, she started to cry alot. It was a cry like she was in pain....more like a scream. It was horrible, and I felt helpless. She seemed to be okay when I would just hold her so I sat and held her for hours, and she calmed down and just slept. I thought she was okay, but then she started having seizures in my arms. My husband came in right about then, and I handed her to him so I could call the vet. But, as I was talking to him and making arrangements to bring her in, she died in my husband's arms. The seizures were just too much for her tiny little body.

This was my choice, and I knew what I was getting into, but I would hate to see anyone go through what I went through. It was so heartbreaking because I got attached to her very quickly. I was taking care of her and feeding her around the clock. I napped when she slept, and I got up every 1 1/2 hours to feed her puppy formula from a bottle. She didn't have any teeth yet. I held her and cuddled her and made her feel safe, and I was so bonded to her because of all the time I spent with her in those 10 days.

There are many yorkies who do very well with Hydrocephalus, and we have people on YT whose yorkies have this. They are so special and so sweet, and they need and deserve special care. It's wonderful when you hear about one that is doing well. It makes me happy.

I'll never forget my little baby, Lily. She was my sweet baby girl.


Can you tell me where this breeder is located? Just would like to know if it could possibly be the same one. You never know.

[browniesmom622]

I hope admin can make this a sticky!